Linebacker Roberts leaving OSU in favor of Harvard

By Tim May

THECOLUMBUSDISPATCH

Sophomore backup linebacker Luke Roberts has left the Ohio State football program in favor of transferring to Harvard, he told The Dispatch late this afternoon.

“I have nothing but positive feelings and respect towards the people at Ohio State, the football program and the university, and for the friendships I have made here,” Roberts said. “But after being here for more than a year, because I did graduate (fromLancasterHigh School) early, I just didn’t feel it was the perfect fit for me. Not that it was a bad place, it just wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be coming out of high school.”

An Ohio State spokesman said coach Urban Meyer and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Luke Fickell were supportive of Roberts’ decision and that there were no ill feelings one way or the other. Roberts confirmed that.

“They said there were going to support me in ‘whatever decision you make,’ “ Roberts said.

As he looked around, Harvard jumped out at him for a couple of reasons. No.1, he is a strong student and had the grades to go there if he desired. No.2, since the Crimson is part of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, one rung down from the Football Bowl Subdivision, he will be able to play immediately, with three years of eligibility remaining after being credited with appearing in four games last year.

“Harvard just seems to be a good fit for me,” Roberts said. “Even though the football obviously is different from the Big Ten, and though I had opportunities to transfer to another BCS school, I just decided that wasn’t what I looking for this time around.

“I thought pursuing a little more academic environment would be more suited to me, just the kind of person I am and the teammates I would have, and the area I would be in.”

Roberts is the second linebacker from the 2012 recruiting class to leave OSU in the past two months. David Perkins, originally fromSouth Bend,Ind., has moved on toIllinoisState.

OSU, meanwhile, welcomed in a 2013 recruiting class that included three blue-chip linebackers in Mike Mitchell, Trey Johnson and Tyquan Lewis, and two others – Darron Lee and Chris Worley – who could grow into linebackers before they’re done.

The chance to gain more playing time early was one of the lures of going to Harvard, Roberts said, but he also knows there will be expectations, “with me coming from a Big Ten school. And I think I will thrive in that role.”

But making the decision to leave was no simple matter.

“During that time it was really stressful, and part of it was ‘Do I stay atOhioStateor do I go to another school?’ “ Roberts said. After finding out he had options to transfer, the next stress came in making the right choice, because he didn’t want to go through the transfer process again, “This is gonna be my final one.

“So it was a big decision, but once I decided to go to Harvard, a big worry has been lifted from my shoulders.”